The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
EVOLUTION OF THE RAG.
Gathered in by Heights of the Ash-BarreI
and Turned Into Fine Paper.

Gathered in by Knights of the Ash-BarreI
and Turned Into Fine Paper.
Boston Globe.
"Old rags!" Familiar combination of Anglo
thing particularly sweet or musical in those two
words, does there2 But it would be decidedly
unsafe thing to wager that there isn't moro
music In 'em to some ears than ever a Sullivan
in his best days turned out
When the trim and ever frugal housewife has
just completed her morning duties, and Thomas
Henry has gone to his work, and Tommy Junior
and little Bertha are sitting the doorstep
silently wondering Why on earth old Sam Adams
couldn't have instituted 100 Fourth of July's
while he about it. shrilly through the suitrv
air comes the voice Of the utility minstrel-"Op
rags"
Whew! what scramble; the house ia vir-
tualiy turned topsy-turvy. The woman Of the
household goes rummaging in closets and cup
boards little Bertha hastens to divest last years
dolly OF her threadbare garments and Master
Tommy actually tuyables headlong down the
cellar stairs in his efforts to grab up his varied
minute or two of wild excitement, all
three emerge and make a break for
the back alley, where q spare, sunburEed Junk
man is patiently waiting. There the modern
Autolycus weighs the old clothes and rusty iron
in an impartial. though ancient, pair of scales,
and says tho lot will net them just forty cents.
Down goes dirty hand in q still dirtier overalls
pocket, and the amount is doled out. Delighted
Well, l should say SO, and SO is old Widow MUIR
ply. whose tempting stock of peanuts and taffy
soon becomes considerably diminished.
Now for the fellow who makes a business OF
collecting these rags and bottles and old iron,
which are known to him junk.
Most every body has a vague idea, of course,
that all this trash, in some way other will
eventually prove useful But how many are
aware that it is great industry, in which large
and enterprsing firms have amassed fortunes.
There are $50 junk collectors in Boston. These
are the iends you hear yelling in your
ear as regular as clock-w work each morn
realm. It is no remarkable thing
for a roundsman to know every court and alley
in the city and suburbs and its mode of entrance,
in the business declared he compelled to
''shin" over several fences in a day, because tho
open the gate for him. Once in, however, ne
grimly remarked they invariably drove hard
bargain.
Every man talked with declared the best pat
rons were domestcs in Back Bay houses, who
always had lots of stuff to sell, aud did the least
kicking" The morning is the time generally
ladies Of the house are more likely TO be at home.
The afternoon is spent in sorting out the results
OF the hunt After this is carefully done each
class of articles is disposed of TO the 300 speciality
dealers in the city, some of the latter for in
stance, buying nothing but bottles, another pa
per. another iron all Of which he in turn sells
to the wholesale DEALERS OF these there are
about eight, situated chiefly in Commercial
street and along the water front, and in point Of
business can compare very favorably with some
of our largest dry goods houses. only that their
maps. slightly more odor than
could be- expected of counter Of
white cambria Twelve paper mills in New
England buy from them all their rags and paper
in lots. several carloads EACH the iron is re-cast
OR wrought over by founderies the bottles are
sorted out and sold to beer and saltwater man
ufacturers. and if the boots are good for any
thing they are repaired at three four different
shops in the city. and arc sold to consumers Of
second hand footwear
Thus the clean white paper you hold in your
hand once lay in the foul gutter, and the sauce
pan your wife Razes upon with such pride is
possibly Tommy's rusty hoops and nails! Evolu-
toni Yes sir, the late MIR. Darwin would have
rejoicec in such an illustration.
OF the several races of men engaged in rag
picking, the dusky Italian takes the palm.
He evidently possesses the ferreting instincts
to the greatest degree. for the sons of Italy
outnumber every other nation three to one.
He can indisputably be dubbed liking of the
ash barrel" Nothing squelches him, not
even the zero weather Of mid winter. when
every day will find him the city dump or
on the streets gathering up the city's refuse.
Every man in the business is licensed. and it
must prove profitable, for from time imme-
mortal in all histories of eccentric rich men and
cranky misers the rag-picker generally heads the
list They rarely show up in good society, save
when they appear every twelve month and
plank down their fees before the gentlemanly
Board OF Police Commissioners.